Familiar Face For Bird; Garcia To Rivas

Sue Bird is still familiarizing herself with the new surroundings in Ekaterinburg but as for her teammates at UMMC, she already knows some of them quite well

FAMILIAR FACE FOR BIRD AT UMMC

Sue Bird's decision to accept a contract offer and play for UMMC Ekaterinburg after spending the previous several seasons at Sparta&K Moscow Region has given her new club reason to believe this may finally be their year to lift the EuroLeague Women title.

UMMC have reached the last four Final Fours and each time came up against Bird in the semi-finals and lost.

In her first game with Bird, a win at VICI Aistes, Jekabsone played 26 minutes and had 15 points, two assists and two rebounds.

If Jekabsone is a familiar face, it's going to take some time to get used to UMMC for Bird because she spent several years with Sparta&K, winning four EuroLeague Women titles and reaching the Final last season.

It will also take a while to get used to living not in Moscow, but in Ekaterinburg.

"Obviously it's two different cities," she said.

"Moscow is a little bit bigger but much more traffic.

"I definitely don't miss the traffic.

"So far, I'm really enjoying my time, getting used to the city, learning the restaurants and knowing where the mall is, it's been fun so far."

Jekabsone is not the only former teammate Bird has rejoined.

She has also played alongside UMMC's Svetlana Abrosimova, one of the leading Russia international players, at both Sparta&K and in the WNBA with Seattle.

Fellow USA national team star Candace Parker is also on the books of UMMC.

RIVAS REUNITE GARCIA WITH MENDEZ

Rivas Ecopolis have signed one of coach Miguel Mendez's former players at Real Celta de Vigo, Gema Garcia.

The 1.65m guard has joined Rivas from Spanish Liga Femenina outfit Caja Rural Tintos de Toros, where she was averaging 3.8 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists in just over 20 minutes per contest.

Rivas, last year's Copa de la Reina winners, are having another strong season.

At 7-5 in the EuroLeague Women, Mendez's squad is fourth in Group C - the same record as third-place Good Angels Kosice and one victory clear of fifth-place Basket Lattes Montpellier Agglomeration.